Blog Tour; Relay

Book Talkers I am so excited for Relay by Layla Reyne. I love Layla's work and This book was so good. Read the blurb, check out what Layla has to say about what inspired her to write about Olympic swimmers, and read my review. -Abri

RELAY, by Layla Reyne, is Book 1 of the Changing Lanes sports romance series featuring Olympic swimmers. RELAY is an enemies-to-lovers, second chance romance between Alex, the team captain, and his closeted ex, Dane, swimming’s biggest star. Read on to learn more about RELAY, Changing Lanes, and Layla Reyne!

 
About Relay
 
Captain is not a title Alejandro “Alex” Cantu takes lightly. Elected by his teammates to helm the US Men’s Swim Team, he proudly accepts the role, despite juggling endless training, team administrative work, and helping out on the family farm. And despite his ex-lover, Dane Ellis—swimming’s biggest star—also making the Olympic Team.

Dane has been a pawn in his celebrity parents’ empire from crib to pool, flashing his camera-ready smile on demand and staying deeply in the closet. Only once did he drop the act—the summer he fell in love with Alex. Ten years later, Dane longs to cut his parents’ strings, drop his too-bright smile, and beg Alex for another chance.

Alex, though, isn’t ready to forgive and forget, and Dane is a distraction he doesn’t need on his team, until an injury forces Alex to accept Dane as his medley relay anchor. Working together, their passion reignites. When Dane’s parents threaten reprisal and Alex is accused of doping, the two must risk everything to prove Alex’s innocence, to love one another, and to win back their spots on the team, together.

Available now from Riptide Publishing!
 
About Changing Lanes

A chance at gold or a chance at love? Members of the US Men’s Swim Team fight for both in this sports romance duology following two couples on one medley relay team as they train and compete in the world’s biggest sporting event: the Olympics. To reach the top of the podium, they’ll need to depend on one another and be willing to change lanes—in their lives and hearts, and in the biggest race of their athletic careers.

Check out Changing Lanes!


 

Story Inspiration

The Olympic Swim Team and the Medley Relay Squad

Relay, releasing January 8, and Medley, releasing April 23, are contemporary sports romances following four swimmers as they train and compete in the Olympics. In particular, Relay’s Alex and Dane, and Medley’s Bas and Jacob make-up the four-man medley-relay squad.

Inspiration for the Changing Lanes duology came at me from multiple directions. Watching the Summer Olympics in 2016, it was hard not to catch some plot bunnies, especially when you have an agent who was there and tweeting all of it, including the swimming events. Add to that, I have a number of close friends who were/are swimmers; not Olympic level, but competition-level through college. So when I decided I wanted to do a sports romance, but couldn’t do hockey because I know nothing about it (for shame, I know!), I chose swimming because I had ready access to people to annoy with questions, and it was not a sport commonly featured in sports romance.

One of those swimmer friends was also in the car with me after a baby shower (my worst nightmare) that same summer. She talked me down from hives by forcing me to brainstorming this duology. We both had Olympics on the brain, and I needed a way to put these enemies who’d become lovers into forced proximity situation. One that worked with the Olympic swimming backdrop. And that’s how I arrived at featuring the medley relay squad. It worked out really well for setting up a duology framework—two couples, plus a training/event schedule that allowed for a natural split point for the books. More importantly, it also provided a wonderful metaphor for found family. These four guys get very tight, working and training together, to the point their breathing is in sync because that makes exchanges smoother. And for each of them, it also makes their life going forward smoother too. Once they get over themselves, of course ;)

Book Talkers, I don't know about you but I love that little tidbit. It's always interesting to find out how an author gets their inspiration for a book. I love the bit at the end. Having read Relay I can say that yes, these guys do lean on each other for support and you can see the bonds and the way they are attuned to each other. I can't wait to see more of it in Medley. -Abri

Review

I fell in love with Layla Reyne and her words after I read her Agents Irish and Whiskey series. I wasn't big on romantic suspense, but reading Layla's book changed my tune rather quickly. 

When I saw she was releasing a duology about Olympic swimmers I was intrigued. The swimming events are my favorites to watch during the games.  Add in a M/M enimes-to-lovers stroyline and you have me hooked before I even pick up the book. 

Dane has it all, good looks, money, sponsors, and a world record for freestyle. But that means nothing to him, not when he's living a lie. 

Alex is trying to juggle his busy home life, his job, his still fragile heart, and his swimming. 

Dane and Alex being thrown together on the Olympic team brings tension to a already stressful environment. 

The chemistry between these two is insane. Right away you know that they're either going to make up and be stronger together, or they're going to bring everything down around them. They're that intense. My heart went out to Dane and all the crap he had to deal with. From the press hounding him, to his agent, to his sponsors, to his parents, to Alex. Poor guy couldn't catch a break. 

Alex has all these feelings for Dane he doesn't know what to do with them. He wants Dane, but he doesn't want to get his heart broken, again. 

When things heat up between Dane and his parents, between the two of them, and Alex comes close to losing it all, they have to work together. 

Dane has to prove himself. 

Alex has to choose to let go. 

Layla Reyne can write romance. Yes she can. 

I can't wait for the second book. Even though it's about a different couple they're all on the same squad. Like Layla says above they have to work together to improve their times and also their lives. 

-Abri 

About The Author

 2016 RWA® Golden Heart® Finalist Layla Reyne was raised in North Carolina and now calls San Francisco home. She enjoys weaving her bicoastal experiences into her stories, along with adrenaline-fueled suspense and heart-pounding romance. 

When she's not writing stories to excite her readers, she downloads too many books, watches too much television, and cooks too much food with her scientist husband, much to the delight of their smushed-face, leftover-loving dogs.

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Giveaway

To celebrate the release of Relay, one lucky winner will receive a signed paperback copy of the book and a $25 Amazon gift card! Leave a comment with your contact info to enter the contest. Entries close at midnight, Eastern time, on January 13, 2018. Contest is NOT restricted to U.S. entries. Thanks for following the tour, and don’t forget to leave your contact info!